6-fluoro-9alpha-halo-11-oxygenated-4-pregnenes and 6-fluoro-9alpha-halo-11-oxygenated-, 4-pregnadienes



United States Patent 6-FLUORO-9a-HALO-1l-OXYGENATED- i-PREG- NENES AND 6-FLUOR0-90t-HALo'11-0XY' GEN ATED-1,4-PREGNADIENES J Allan Campbell, Kalamazoo Township, Kalamazoo County, John C. Babcock, Portage Township, Kalamazoo County, and John A. Hogg, Kalamazoo Township, Kalamazoo County, Mich., assignors to The Upjohn Company, Kalamazoo, Mich., a corporation of Michigan No Drawing. Application June 9, 1958 Serial No. 740,535

, 25 Claims. (Cl. 260-23955) l The present invention relates to novel 6a-fluoro and 6 S-fluoro steroid compounds and is more particularly concerned with certain 6-fiuoro-9a-ha1o-11-oxygenated- 4-pregnene-3,20-diones and the A -analogues thereof, for example, 6 fluoro 9a halo 11;? hydroxy 4 pregnene 3,20 diones (6 fluoro 9oz halo 11p hydroxyprogesterones), 6 fluoro 9a halo 4 pregnene 3,11, 20 triones (6 fluoro 9a halo 11 ketoprogesterones), 6 fluoro 90c halo 113 hydroxy 1,4 pregnadiene 3,20 diones (1 dehydro 6 fluoro 9oz halo- 11B hydroxyprogesterones), 6 fluoro 9a halo 1,4- pregnadiene 3,11,20- triones (1 dehydro 6 fluoro- 9a halo 11 ketoprogesterones) and novel 6-fluoro steroid intermediates and methods used in the production thereof.

The novel products of this invention include those represented by the formula:

I E F wherein the 1,2-carbon atom linkage is selected from the linkages consisting of single bond and double bond linkages, X is selected from the group consisting of the carbonylradical C=O) and the hydroxymethylene radical CHOH) and Y is a halogen having an atomic weight of from nineteen to eighty, inclusive.

.triones, 6 fluoro 9a halo 11B hydroxy 1,4 pregnadiene 3,20 diones, 6 fluoro 9a halo 1,4 pregw nadiene 3,11,20 trio-nes and novel 6-fluoro steroid intermediates and methods inthe production thereof. Other objects will be apparent to those skilled in the art to which this invention pertains.

The compounds of Formula I possess useful therapeutic properties. They possess .glucocorticoid and antiinflammatory activities and are useful in the treatment of inflammatory conditions of the skin, eyes and ears of humans and of valuable domestic animals, as well as contact dermatitis and other allergic reactions. In additi0n,-they affect the secretion of gonadotropins and thus regulate ovulation and endometrial and placental development and particularly when used in'conjunction with estrogens, e.g., ethinyl-estradiol, and/or androgens, e.g., 9a fluoro 11B hydroxy 17 methyltestosterone, reduce fertility and constitute elfective therapy for dysmenorrhea, amenorrhea, endometriosis, threatened abortion and related gynecological disorders.

Compositions containing the compounds of the present invention can be prepared for human or animal use by incorporating them in any one of the several dosage forms suitable for such use. Administration of the novel steroids thus can be in conventional dosage forms, such as pills, tablets, capsules, solutions, syrups or elixirs for oral use, or in liquid forms which are adaptable to the natural and synthetic cortical steroid hormones for injectable products.

The novel compounds can also be administered topically in the form of ointments, creams, lotions, and the like, with or without coacting antibiotics, germicides, or other materials forming advantageous combinations .therewith.

The starting steroids for the processes of the present invention, for example, 60: fluoro hydroxy 4- p'regnene 3,20 dione, 6 3 fluoro 11B hydroxy 4,- pregnene 3,20 dione, 6a fluoro 11oz hydroxy 4- pregnene 3,20 dione, and 65 fluoro 11a, hydroxy- 4 pregnene 3,20 dione, are disclosed in our copending application Serial No. 699,503, filed November 29, 1957, now Patent No. 2,838,501 issued June 10, 1958.

The novel compounds of the present invention can be prepared in accordance with the following reaction scheme:

wherein Y has the same meaning as previously given and W is a halogen having an atomic weight of from 35 to 127, inclusive.

One of the novel processes of this invention, depicted schematically above, comprises first the dehydration of 6-fluoro-1lfl-hydroxy-4-pregnene-3,ZO-dione or 6-fluoro 11a-hydroxy-4-pregnene-3,20-dione to obtain 6-fluoro- 4,9(1l)-pregnadiene-3,20-dione followed by treatment of the dehydration product with a source of hypohalous acid in which the halogen is bromine, chlorine, or iodine to produce the corresponding 6-fiuoro-9e-halo-1lfl-hydroxy-4-pregnene-3,ZO-dione. The said 9ez-hal0 compound is then dehydrohalogenated with a mild base to give 6-fiuoro-9,l1B-oxido-4-pregnene-3,ZO-dione. Cleavage of the said 9,11-oxido compound with a hydrogen halide or a hydrogen halide releasing agent, which provides a source of hydrogen fluoride, hydrogen chloride, or hydrogen bromide, gives the corresponding 6-fluoro- 9a-halo-llfi-hydroxy-4-pregnene-3,20-dione which can be oxidized by known methods to produce 6-fiuoro-9m-halo- 4-pregnene-3,l 1,20-trione.

6 fiuoro 9a halo 11,8 hydroxy 4 pregnene- 3,20-dione and 6-fiuoro-9a-halo-4-pregnene-3,11,20-trione can then be subjected to biological dehydrogenation using microorganisms, for example, a species of the genus Septomyxa, or to chemical dehydrogenation using selenium dioxide according to methods known in the art to produce the corresponding A -analogues thereof; namely, 6 fluoro 9a halo 11B hydroxy 1,4 pregnadiene- 3,20-dione and 6-fiuoro-9a-halo-1,4-pregnadiene-3,l1,20- trione, respectively.

Alternatively, 6-fiuoro-9a-halo-l ,4-pregnadiene-3 ,1 1,20- trioue can be obtained from 6-fluoro-9a-ha1o-11p-hydroxy-l,4-pregnadiene-3,ZO-dione by oxidation using.

methods known to convert hydrocortisone to cortisone.

In carrying out one of the novel processes of this invention, 6-fluoro-l l fl-hydroxy-4-pregnene-3,20-dione (II), or the lla-hydroxy analogue thereof, is dehydrated to 6-fiuoro-4,9( l1)-pregnadiene-3,20-dione (III) by methods known in the art, e.g., by a dehydrating agent such as phosphorous oxychloride, thionyl chloride, hydrochloric acid or sulfuric acid and acetic acid, or the dehydration can be effected by the preferred method of reacting the 6-fiuoro-llfl-hydroxy-4-pregnene-3,ZO-dione (II) with a carboxylic acid N-haloamide or N-haloimide, wherein the halogen is bromine or chlorine, in an organic base either with or followed by anhydrous sulfur dioxide. Examples of such N-haloamides or N-haloimides are N-chloroacetamide, N-bromoacetamide, N-chlorosuccinimide, N- bromosuccinimide, 3-bromo-5,S-dimethylhydantoin, 1,3- dibromo-S,S-dimethylhydantoin, and the like, N-bromoacetamide being preferred. The organic bases employed as solvents in the above reaction are generally tertiary amines wherein the amino nitrogen is a member of an aromatic ring, such as the pyridines and lower fatty amides, pyridine being preferred. Normally an amount in excess of a molar equivalent of organic base calculated on the basis of the quantity of starting steroid is employed. The sulfur dioxide is advantageously employed in substantially anhydrous form, inasmuch as the presence of water tends to decrease the yield of dehydrated product. The temperature of the reaction is generally between minus forty and plus seventy degrees centigrade, the lower limit being determined by the solubility of the substituents in the solvent selected and the upper limit by the amount of side reaction which normally accompanies reactions involving halogen compounds at higher temperatures. Ordinarily, room temperatures are preferred for convenience and because of the consistently high yields of end product which are obtained. A reaction time between about five minutes and three hours is usually employed, the specific temperature at which the reaction is conducted being determinative of the reaction time.

The thus-obtained dehydration product is converted to 6 fluoro 9a halo 11,3 hydroxy 4 pregnene 3,20- dione (IV) by reaction with a hypohalous acid. The hypohalous acid is usually produced in situ by reaction of an acid with N-haloamide or N-haloimide wherein the halogen is bromine, chlorine or iodine. The 6-fiuoro- 4,9(11)-pregnadiene-3,20-dione (III) is dissolved in an organic solvent such as methylene chloride, tertiary butyl alcohol, dioxane, tertiary amyl alcohol or the like, and reacted at room temperature with the hypohalous acid releasing agent, which includes N-bromoacetamide, N-chloroacetamide, N-bromosuccinimide, N-iodosuccinimide, N-chlorosuecinimide, and the like, in the presence of an acid such as perehloric acid, dilute sulfuric acid, and the like. N-bromoacetamide in tertiary butyl alcohol with perchloric acid and water are the preferred reagents for this reaction. Normally the halogenation is conducted at room temperatures, between fifteen and thirty degrees centigrade, although temperatures on either side of this range are operative. The reaction period may vary from about five minutes to one hour. At the conclusion of the desired reaction, the excess hypohalous acid is destroyed by the addition of sulfites or hydrosulfites, sodium sulfite being normally employed. The resulting 6-fiuoro-9a-halo-llfi-hydroxy-4-pregnene-3,20- dione (IV), in which the halogen is bromine, chlorine, or iodine, can be isolated from the reaction mixture by adding an excess of water and extracting the product with organic solvents or by recovering the precipitated compound by filtration. The crude reaction product may be employed directly in the next step of the process.

The 9a-halo compound (IV) as defined above is then dehydrohalogenated with a weak base, potassium acetate being preferred, to convert it into the corresponding 9,11fl-oxido compound. The reaction is conducted in an inert solvent such as methanol, ethanol, acetone, dioxane, and the like. The dehydrohalogenation reaction takes place over a rather wide range of temperatures, normally from about minus fifteen degrees to the boiling point of the reaction mixture, the range between zero degrees and sixty degrees centigrade being most convenient. The reaction time may be varied considerably, depending on the weak base, solvent and the temperature employed. When potassium acetate is used, a period of reflux of from about one to twenty hours produces satisfactory yields, with about eighteen hours usually being sufiicient. The reaction mixture is concentrated, cooled and precipitated with water to give 6-fluoro-9,11p-oxido-4-pregnene-3,20-dione (V).

In the epoxide opening step, the 9,11,6-oxido compound (V) is reacted with a hydrogen halide such as hydrogen fluoride, hydrogen chloride, or hydrogen bromide to produce the corresponding 6-fluoro-9a-halo-1lfi-hydroxy-4- pregnene-3,20-dione (VI). Advantageously, the steroid is first dissolved in an organic solvent such as tetrahydr'ofuran, methylene chloride, and the like. The epoxide cleavage with hydrogen halide is usually conducted at temperatures between about minus eighty and plus fifty degrees centigrade, the preferred limits being between about minus ten and plus degrees centigrade. The reaction time is usually from about one to 24 hours, with one to five hours being required at room temperatures. After the reaction is complete, the mixture is poured into water and neutralized With a dilute base, such as dilute sodium or potassium hydroxide, or a bicarbonate such as sodium bicarbonate, potassium bicarbonate, or the like. The reaction mixture is then extracted in the usual manner, such as with methylene chloride, and the 6-fiuoro-9ahalo-11/3 hydroxy-4-pregnene-3,20-dione (VI) recovered in a purified form by recrystallization or chromatography.

6-fluoro-9a-halo-1 1B hydroxy-4-pregnene 3,20 dione (VI) can then be treated with an oxidizing agent, for example, chromium trioxide, potassium dichromate or sodium dichromate, to obtain 6-fiu-oro-9a-halo-4-pregnene- 3,11,20-trione (VII). The oxidation can be carried out by a variety of methods, such as for example, by oxidizing 6-fluoro-9a-halo-1 l B-hydroxy-4-pregnene-3,20-dione (VI) in acetic acid solution With chromium trioxide or sodium dichromate, or by oxidizing with chromium trioxide in the presence of pyridine. As the conclusion of the desired oxidation reaction, the excess chromic acid is generally destroyed by the addition of methyl alcohol, ethyl alcohol, and the like. Thereafter, the resulting 6-fluoro- 9 z-halo-4-pregnene-3,l1,20-trione (VII) is recovered by conventional means, for example, by precipitation with water, or extraction with water-immiscible solvents, e.g., methylene chloride, ether, benzene, toluene, or the like, and purified by crystallization or by chromatography.

6-fluoro-9a-halo-l 1,8 hydroxy-4-pregnene 3,20 dione (VI) and 6-fluoro-9a-halo-4 pregnene 3,11,20 trione (VII) are converted to the A -analogues thereof, 6-fluoro- 9a-halo-11/8-hydroxy-1,4-pregnadiene 3,20-dione (VIII) and 6-fiuoro-9a-halo-1,4-pregnadiene-3,11,20-trione (IX), respectively, using either fermentative or chemical dehydrogenation. Microorganisms such as Septomyxa, Corynebacterium, Fusarium, and the like, are used under fermentation conditions well known in the art (e.g., US. Patent 2,602,769) and illustrated in greater detail below. The chemical dehydrogenation can be carried out with selenium dioxide using procedures well known in the art and further illustrated by the examples herein.

Alternatively, 6-fluoro-9a-halo-l,4-pregnadiene-3,11,20- trione (IX) is obtained by the oxidation of 6-fiuoro-9bzhalo-1 lfi-hydroxy-l,4-pregnadiene-3,20-dione (VIII), using the same procedures, described above and in greater detail below, for the oxidation of 6-fluoro-9a-halo-ll[3- hydroXy-4-pregnene-3,20-dione (VI) to 6-fluor-o-9a-halo- 4-pregnene-3,11,20-trione (VII).

The A -compounds of the instant invention are represented'by the following formula:

wherein X and Y have the same meaning as previously given.

A process for the preparation of these compounds is represented by the following reaction scheme:

CH CH3 CH CH3 (Ill-I (EH3 cc l 0: Q:

\/ XIII xrr i 5 F F CH3 CH3 CH3 on, 0:0 0:0 CH3 I i no: 0 CH3 XIV VIII a i i i on,

\/ IX i F wherein W and Y have the same meaning as previously given.

The alternative process for the preparation of the A steroid compounds of the instant invention comprises: the dehydrogenation of 6-fiuoro-llfl-hydroxy-4-pregnene3, 20-dione (II) or 6-fluoro-11a-hy-droxy-4-pregnene-3,20- dione to produce 6-fluoro'-11fl-hydroxy-1,4-pregnadiene- 3,20-dione (XI) or 6-fiuoro-1la-hydroxy-1,4-pregnadiene- 3,20-dione, respectively, following the'procedures used to convert the 9a-halo-11/3-hydroxy steroid (VI) to the A -9a-halo-llfl hydroxy steroid (VIII). The 'thus-o'bj taiii'ed x u-hyamxy steroid(XI)is then dehydrated to yield 6-fluoro-1,4,9(11)-pregnatriene-3,20-dione (XII) in the same manner thatis used to dehydrate the ll-hydroxy steroid starting compound (II) to the M -steroid (III). The thus-obtained A -steroid (XII) is then treated with a source of hypohalous acid to convert it to 6-fil10I'O-9oc-hfilO-1 lfi-hydroxy-1,4-pregnadiene-3,20 dione (XIII) in the same manner that is used to convert the A -steriod (III) to the 9a-halo-11B-hydroxy steroid (IV). The thus-obtained A -9u-halo-115-hydroxy steroid (XIII) is then dehydrohalogenated to convert it to 6- fluoro-9,1lfi-oxido-l,4-pregnadiene-3,20-dione (XIV) in the same manner that is used to convert the 9a-halo-11B hydroxy steroid (IV) to the 9,11,3-oxido steroid (V). The thus-obtained A -9,11/3-oxido steroid (XIV) is treated with a hydrogen halide or a hydrogen halide-releasing agent to convert it to 6-fiuoro-9a-halo-1lfi-hydroxy-lA- pregnadiene-3,20-dione (VIII) in the same manner that is used to convert the 9,11B-oxido steroid (V) to the 9mhalo-11/3-hydroxy steroid (VI). The thus-obtained A 9a-halo-11/3-hydroxy steroid (VIII) is then oxidized to convert it to 6-fiuoro-9a-halo-1,4-pregnadiene-3,l1,20- trione (IX) in the same manner that is used to convert the 9a-halo-11fi-hydroxy steroid (VI) to the 9u-halo-11- keto steroid (VII).

The foregoing compounds, I through XIV are all characterized by the presence of a 6-fiuoro substituent. It should be noted that the configuration of the fluorine at the 6-position can be either 60: or 6B. Thus, substituting 6fi-fiuoro-11-hydroxy-4-pregnene-3,ZO-dione asthe starting steroid and following the procedures hereinbefore described and as exemplified below, produces as the final product of each example the corresponding 6,3-epimer. Where the 6,8-epimer or a mixture predominating therein is employed as the starting material, any subsequent reaction product can be isolated either as the 6 8-epimer or as a mixture of Gov and 6B-epimers from which the components can be separated by chromatography or crystallization. Alternatively, a 6u-epimerized product can be obtained by treatment of the 6fl-epimer or mixtures of the 6mand 6 8-epimers at temperatures near zero degrees centigrade, or slightly higher or lower temperatures, in an organic solvent, such as chloroform, methylene chloride, ether, and the like, and in the presence of a prototropic agent(proton-donating reagent) such as alcohols, organic acids, and the like, with a hydrogen halide such as gaseous hydrogen chloride. The mixture should preferably be maintained at temperatures below zero degrees centigrade during the addition of the hydrogen halide. The reaction mixture can then be washed with successive portions of dilute alkali and water, and then dried and evaporated under reduced pressure. The 6a-fiuoro products can be recovered from the crude reaction product and purified by recrystallization.

Alternatively, epimerization of the 6fi,9u-difiuoro steroids can be accomplished with alkali. Bases, for example, solutions of sodiumhydroxide and potassium hydroxide, may be used to treat the ofi-epimer in solution in an organic solvent, such as methanol, to produce the 6m-ep1mer.

As indicated above and described in greater detail below, the sequence of reactions embodied in the processes characterizing this invention is susceptible of variation, the precise order selected being determined by such factors as economics and convenience.

The following examples are illustrative of the process andrproducts of the present invention, but are not to be construed as limiting.

' EXAMPLE 1 6a-flu0r0-4,9(11 -pregnadiene-3,20-dine (III) To a solution of one gram of 6u-fluoro-11fi-hydroxy-4- pregnene-3,20-dione (II) in ten milliliters of pyridine there'iisi added 0.4 gram ofN-bromoacetamide. The mix minutes, at which tim'eit'iscoole'd to approximately five degrees centigrade. While stirring, anhydrous sulfur dioxide is passed over the surface until the solution gives no colorchange with acidified starch-iodide paper. The temperature of the reaction mixture is not allowed to go above approximately twenty degrees centigrade during the sulfur dioxide addition. The mixture is then allowed to stand for about five minutes and is poured into milliliters of ice-water, which results in the precipitation of a crude solid. Crystallization from acetone gives 6mfluoro-4,9(l1)-pregnadiene-3,20-dione (III), a crystalline solid.

Similarly, the substitution of 6oc-fil101'O-11u-hyd1'0Xy-4- pregnene-3,20-dione for its llfi-analogue is productiveof 6a-fiuoro-4,9 (11)-pregnadiene-3,20-dione.

- ExAMPLE 2 6oi-fluoro-9a-br0mo-1Ifl-hydroxy-4-pregnene-3,20- dione (IV) 2 To afsolution of 420 milligrams of 6a-fluoro-4,9(l1)"- pregnadiene-3,20-dione (III) in 6.5 milliliters of methylene chloride there is added 12.5 milliliters of tertiary butyl alcohol, a solution of one milliliter of 72 percent perchloric acid in 7.5 milliliters of water, and a solution of 182 milligrams of N-bromoacetamide in 3.2 milliliters of tertiary butyl alcohol. After stirring for about fifteen minutes, a solution of 182 milligrams of sodium sulfite in ten milliliters of water is added and the mixture concentrated under reduced pressure at approximately sixty degrees centigrade until crystallization occurs. After cooling in'an ice bath,'tl1irty milliliters of water is added with stirring. The crystalline product is filtered, washed with water and dried, yielding crystals of 6afill0l0I-9ti bromo-l 1fi-hydroxy-4-pregnene-3,ZO-dione IV) having: a melting point of 173- 17 5 C. with decomposition.' (The product was used in the succeeding example withoutfura ther purification.) Substitution of another N-haloamide or an N-haloimide such as N-iodosuccinimide or N-chlorosuccinimide for the N-bromoacetamide in the foregoing reaction is pro: ductiv of the corresponding 9a-halo product.

EXAMPLE 3 -6a.-flu0r0-9,11 S-oxido-4-pregnene-3,20-dione (V) mixture of 2.816 grams of 6a-fluoro-9a-bromo-11p hydroxy-l-pregnene-3,20-dione (IV), 2.816 gramsof po tassium acetate, and ninety milliliters of acetone is"stirred and heated at about rcfiux temperature for approximately eighteen hours. The reaction mixture is then concentrated to about one-half the original volume and cooled in an ice bath. Addition of 250 milliliters of water yields 6 m,-fiuoro-9,11B oxido-4-pregnene-3,ZO-dione (V), a crystalline solid, which is recovered by filtration.

Similarly, 6u-fiuoro-9a-chloro-l1B-hydroxy-4-pregnene- 3,20-dione or the 9a-i0d0 analogue thereof can be converted to 6a-fiuoro-9/3,1lfl-oxido-4-pregnene-3,20-dione.

To 3.41 grams of liquid hydrogen fluoride and twenty milliliters of methylene chloride cooled in' Dry-Ice bath there is added, portion-wise, a slurry of 1.875 grams of 6a-fiuoro-9;3,llfi-oxid0-4-pregnene-3,20-di0ne (V) in 5.97 grams of tetrahydrofuran (distilled over sodium hydroxide) and twenty milliliters of methylene chloride which had similarly been cooled in a Dry-Ice bath. After standing at approximately zero to five degrees centigrade for about seventeen hours, the reaction mixture is poured slowly into a stirred mixture of 300 milliters of ice-water, fifty milliliters of methylene chloride, and twenty grams of sodium bicarbonate. The mixture is stirred for a few minutes, the methylene chloride layer is separated and the water phase extracted with two fiftymilliliter portions of fresh methylene chloride. The comture is allowed to stand under nitrogen for about twenty 73" bined methylene chloride solutions are washed with 9 water, dried, and chromatographed on a column con taining 100 grams of Florisil (synthetic magnesium silieate). The column is eluted with increasing proportions of acetone in Skellysolve B heXanes (100 milliliters per fraction). Those crystalline materials obtained after evaporation of the solvent from the fractions obtained with fifteen to 25 percent acetone in Skellysolve B hexanes are combined and recrystallized from acetone- Skellysolve B hexanes to give substantially pure crystals of 6a,9a-difluoro-1l 3-hydroxy-4-pregnene-3,ZO-dione (VI) having a melting point of 249-254 C. with decomposition.

Substitution of aqueous hydrogen chloride or hydrogen bromide for the hydrogen fluoride above is productive of the corresponding 9a-ha1o product.

EXAMPLE 5 6a,9a-diflaoro-4-pregnene-3,11,20-tri0ne (VII) Substitution of the corresponding 9a-chloro or 9w bromo starting steroid in the above reaction produces 6afiuoro 9a-chloro-4-pregnene-3,l1,20-trione and its 9abromo analogue, respectively.

EXAMPLE 6 6 a,9a-a'ifluoro-1 1 13-h ydroxy-I ,4-pvregnadiene-3,ZO-dione VIII) (Biological dehydrogenation) Five 100-milliliter portions of a medium, in 250-milliliter Erlenmeyer flasks, containing one percent glucose, two percent corn steep liquor (sixty percent solids) and tap water, are adjusted to a pH of 4.9. This medium is sterilized for 45 minutes at fifteen pounds per square inch pressure and inoculated with a one to two day vegetative growth of Septomyxa afiinis A.T.C.C. 6737. The Erlenmeyer flasks are shaken at room temperature (about 26 to 28 degrees centigrade) for a period of three days. At the end of this period this SOD-milliliter volume is used as an inoculum for ten liters of the same glucose-corn steep liquor medium which in addition contained five milliliters of an antifoam compound (a mixture of lard oil and octadecanol). The fermenter is placed into the Water bath, adjusted to 28 degrees centigrade and the contents stirred (300 r.p.m.) and aerated (0.1 liter of air per minute to ten liters of beer). After twenty hours of incubation, when a good growth has been developed, one gram of 6a,9a-difluoro-1le-hydroxy- 4-pregnene-3,20-dione (VI) in sixteen milliliters of dimethylformamide is added and the incubation carried out at the same temperature (28 degrees centigrade) and aeration for a period of 24 hours (final pH 8.3). The mycelium is filtered off and extracted with three ZOO-milliliter portions of acetone. The beer is extracted with three one-liter portions of methylene chloride and thereupon the extracts. of the beer and acetone are combined, dried over anhydrous sodium sulfate, and chromatographed on a column containing 100 grams of Florisil (synthetic magnesium silicate). The column is eluted with increasing proportions of acetone in Skellysolve B hexanes (100-milliliters per fraction). Those crystalline materials obtained after evaporation of the solvent from I the fractions obtained with twenty to 25 percent acetone in Skellysolve B hexanes are combined and recrystallized from acetone-Skellysolve B hexanes to give substantially 10 pure crystals of 6a,9a-difluoro-llfl-hydroxy-lA-pregnw diene-3,20-dione.

Instead of Septomyxa, species of other genera such as Corynebacterium, Didymella, Calonectria, Alternaria, Colletotrichum, Cylindrocarpon, Ophiobolus, Fusarium, Listeria, Erysipelothrix, Mycobacterium, Trichothecium, Leptosphaeria, Cucurbitaria, Nocardia, and enzymes of fungi of the family Tuberculariaceae can be used to introduce a A -bond into 6a,9a-difiuoro-llfi-l1ydroxy-4- pregnene-3,20-dione.

Similarly, substitution of the corresponding 9a-Chl01'0- or 9oc-bI0II1O starting steroid in the above reaction produces 6a fitl01'O-9a-ChlOrO-l lfl-hydroxy-1,4-pregnadiene- 3,20-dione and its 9a-bromo analogue; respectively.

EXAMPLE 7 6a,9a-difluoro-1,4-pregnadiene-3,I1,20-tri0ne (IX) Substituting 6a,9a difluoro-4-pregnene-3,11,20-trione (VII) for 600,90: difluoro-l1/3-hydroxy-4-pregnene-3,20-

dione (VI) in the procedure of Example 6 is productive of 6a,9a-difiuoro-1,4-pregnadiene-3,11,20-trione, a crystalline solid.

Likewise, the other microorganisms and enzymes listed in Example 6 can be used to introduce a A -bond into 6a,9a-difluoro-4-pregnene-3,l1,20-trione (IX).

Similarly, substitution of the corresponding 9oc-chloro o-r 9a-bromo starting steroid in the above reaction produces 6a-fluoro-9a-chloro-1,4-pregnadiene-3, l 1,20-trione and its 9a-bromo analogue, respectively.

- EXAMPLE 8 6a,9a-diflaor0-1,4-pregnadiene-3,11,20-trione (IX) from 604,904 difluoro 11/3 hydroxy 1,4 pregn adiene- 3,20-dione (VIII) Substituting 6u,9a difiuoro-l le-hydroxy-lA-pregnadiene-3,20-dione (VIII) for 6a,9a-difluoro-11,8-hydroxy-4- pregnene-3,20-dione (VI) in the procedure of Example 5 produces 604,901. difluoro-l,4-pregnadiene-3,l1,20-trione (XI).

Similarly, substituting of the corresponding 9oc-Chl01'0- or 9a-bromo starting steroid in the reaction of Example 5 produces 60: fiuoro-9a-chlo-ro-l,4-pregnadiene-3,l1,20- trione and its 9a-bromo analogue, respectively.

EXAMPLE 9 6a,9a difluoro 115 hydroxy 1,4 pregwadiene 3,20- dione (VIII) (chemical dehydrogenation) A mixture of milligrams of 6a,9a-difluoro-11/3- hydroxy-4-pregnene-3,20-dione (VI) dissolved in six milliliters of tertiary butyl alcohol and 0.55 milliliter of acetic acid is heated together with thirty milligrams of selenium dioxide to approximately 75 degrees centigrade under stirring for a period of about 24 hours. Thereafter another thirty-milligram portion of selenium dioxide is added and the mixture is heated to about 75 degrees centigrade under continuous stirring for a further period of 24 hours. The mixture is then cooled, filtered to remove the selenium dioxide and evaporated. The residue is recrystallized from acetone-Skellysolve B heXanes four times to give 6a,9a-difluoro-1lfi-hydroxy-l,4-pregnadiene-3,20-dione.

Similarly, substitution of the corresponding 9a-chloro or 9a-bromo starting steroid in the above reaction produces 6a fluoro-9a-chloro-ll,8hydroXy-1,4-pregnadiene-3,20-

dione and its 9a-bromo analogue, respectively.

EXAMPLE 10 6u,9a difluoro 1,4 pregnadiene 3,11,20 trione;

(IX) (chemical dehydrogenation) Substituting 611,90: difluoro-4-pregnene-3,11,20-trione (VII) for 6a,9a-difluoro-11p-hydroxy-4-pregnene-3,20

dione"(=VI')"in" the procedure of Example 9 is productive ext-6,205

l1- a 9 produces 6a-fluoro-9m-chloro-1,4-pregnadiene-3,11,20- trioneand its 9a-bromo analogue, respectively.

EXAMPLE 11 6 m-fluoro-l I B-hydroxy-I ,4 -pregnadicne-3,20-dine (biological dehydrogenation) f Substituting 60: fluoro 115 hydroxy 4 pregnene- 3,20-dione (II) for 6a,9u-difluoro-l1fi-hydroxy-4-pregnene-3,20-dione (VI) in the procedure of Example 6 produces 60: fluoro 11B hydroxy 1,4 pregnadiene- 3,20-dione (XI), a crystalline solid.

, Similarly, the substitution of 6a-fiuoro-l1u-hydroxy-4- pregnene-3,20-dione in Example 11 is productive of 6mfluoro-'1 lat-hydroxy-1,4-pregnadiene-3,20-dione.

EXAMPLE 12 6a fluoro 11B hydroxy 1,4 pregnadiene 3,20- dione (XI) (chemical dehydrogenation) 3,20-dione is productive of 6u-fluoro-1,4,9(1l)-pregnatriene-3,20-dione.

EXAMPLE 14 6a fluoro 9a bromo 11B hydroxy 1,4 pregna- J diene-3,20-dione (XIII) Substituting 6a fluoro 1,4,9(11) pregnatriene- 3,20-dione (XII) for 6ot-fiuoro-4,9(11)-pregnadiene-3,20- dione (III) in the procedure of Example 2 produces 6afluoro-9a bromo 11,3 hydroxy 1,4-pregnadiene-3,20- dione (XIII).

Similarly, substitution of another N-haloamide or an N-haloimide such as N-iodosuccinimide or N-chlorosuccinimide for the N-bromoacetamide in the procedure of Example 2 is productive of the corresponding 9a-halo product.

EXAMPLE 15 6a-fluor0-9J1p-oxid0-1 ,4-pregnadiene-3,20-di0ne (XIV) Substituting 6oz fluoro 9a bromo 11 8 hydroxy- 1,4-pregnadiene-3,20-dione (and the 9a-ch10ro and 9a-iodo analogue thereof, respectively) (XIII) for 6a-fluoro-9abromo-1lfl-hydroxy-4-pregnene-3,20-dione (IV) in the procedure of Example 3 produces 6a-fiuoro-9,ll}8-oxidol,4-pregnadiene-3,20-dione (XIV).

EXAMPLE 16 hydroxy I ,4 pregnadiene 3,20-

dione (VIII) Substituting 6a-fiuoro-9,1 lfi-oxido-l ,4-pregnadiene-320- dione (XIV)- for 6a-fiuoro-9,llB-oxido-4 pregnene-3,20 dione (V) in the procedure of Example 4 produces 611,90:- difluoro-llfi-hydroxy-l,4-pregnadiene-3,20-dione (and the 9a-chloro and 9ot-bromo analogue thereof, respectively) (.VIII).

6 .49 I difiuoro 11p EXAMPLE 17 .37.; The 6,B-epimers idione for the starting material in Example 1 and following the procedures of Examples 1 through 16, there is produced as the final product of each example the corresponding 6 3-steroid, for example, 65- fiuoro 4,9(11) pregnadiene-3,20-dione (Example 1), 6fi fluoro 9a bromo 11B hydroxy 4 pregnene- 3,20-dione (Example 2), 6/3 fluoro 9,115 oxido 4- pregnene-3,20-dione (Example 3), 6B,9a-difluoro-llphydroxy-4-pregnene-3,20-dione (Example 4), 613,9tz-difluoro-4-pregnene-3,11,20-trione (ExampleS), 65,9a-difluoro-1lfl-hydroxy-1,4-pregnadiene-3,ZO-dione (Example 6, 9 or 16), 6B,9a-difiuoro-l,4-pregnadiene-3,l1,20-trione (Example 7, 8 or 10), 6/8-fluoro-llB-hydroxy-lA-pregnadiene-3,20-dione (Example 11 or 12), 6fl-fiuoro-l,4,9(ll)- pregnatriene-3,20-dione (Example 13), 6,6-fiuoro-9abromo-l lfi-hydroxy-l,4-pregnadiene-3,20-dione (Example 14) and 6B-fluoro-9,1lfi-oxido-1,4-pregnadiene-3,20-dione (Example 15).

EXAMPLE 18 Isomerization of the 6B-fluor0 steroids to the corresponding 6a-fluoro steroids Illustratively, this reaction is carried out as follows:

A solution of one gram of 6fi,9a-difiuoro-l l ft-hydroxy- 1,4-pregnadiene-3,20-dione in milliliters of chloroform and 0.1 milliliter of alcohol is cooled to approximately minus ten degrees in an ice-salt bath and a stream of anhydrous hydrochloric acid is gently bubbled through the solution for about 2.5 hours whilst maintaining the temperature between approximately minus five and minus fifteen degrees centigrade. The solution is then washed with dilute sodium bicarbonate and water, dried over anhydrous sodium sulfate, and evaporated to dryness under reduced pressure. Crystallization of the residue from acetone-Skellysolve B hexanes yields 6m-9ot-(llfiUOIO-11B- hydroxy-1,4-pregnadiene-3,20-dione (VIII).

In a similar manner, other 6,9-fiuoro steroids, for example, those named in Example 17, such as, for example, 6/? fluoro 4,9(11) pregnadiene 3,20-dione, 6p-fiuoro- 9oz bromo 11B hydroxy 4 pregnene 3,20 dione, 6p fluoro 9,115 oxido 4 pregnene 3,20 dione, 6 3,90 difiuoro hydroxy 4 pregnene 3,20- dione, 65,90; difiuoro 4 pregnene 3,11,20 trione, 6,3,9 difiuoro 1,4 pregnadiene 3,11,20 trione, 65- fiuoro 11/3 hydroxy 1,4 pregnadiene 3,20 dione, 65 fluoro l,4,9(1l) pregnatriene 3,20 dione, 6,3- fluoro 9a bromo 11,3 hydroxy 1,4 pregnadiene- 3,20 dione and 6,8 fiuoro 9,11 9 oxido 1,4 pregnadiene -3,20-dione can be converted to their corresponding mat-analogues.

This application is a continuation-in-part of application Serial No. 699,503, filed November 29, 1957.

It is to be understood that the invention is not to be limited to the exact details of operation or exact compounds shown and described, as obvious modifications and equivalents will be apparent to one skilled in the art and the invention is therefore to be limited only by the scope of the appended claims.

We claim:

l. A 6-fiuoro-l1-oxygenated compound of the followmg formula:

wherein the 1,2-carbon atom linkage is selected from the linkages consisting of single and double bond linkages, X is selected from the group consisting of the carbonyl radical and the hydroxymethylene radical and Y is a halogen having an atomic weight of from nineteen to eighty, inclus1ve.

2. 6,90: difluoro 11p hydroxy 4 pregnene 3,20- dione.

6a,9a-difluoro-l1p-hydroxy-4-pregnene-3,ZO-dione. 6,3,9a-difluor-l1fl-hydroxy-4-pregnene-3,20-dione. 6,9a-difiuoro-4-pregnene-3, 1 1,20-trione. 6a,9a-difluoro-4-pregnene-3,11,20-trione. 613,9a-difluoro-4-pregnene-3,11,20-trione. 6,9 difluoro 115 hydroxy 1,4 pregnadiene- 3,20-dione.

9. 60:,9a difiuoro 115 hydroxy 1,4 pregnadiene- 3,20-dione.

10. 65,90: -difluoro 11p hydroxy 1,4 pregnadiene- 3,20-dione.

1 1. 6,9a-difluoro-1,4-pregnadiene-3,11,20-trione.

12. 6a,9a-difluoro-1,4-pregnadiene-3,11,20-trione.

14. 6 fiuoro 9oz bromo 11/3 hydroxy 4 pregnene-3,20-dione.

15. 6a fluoro 9a bromo 11p hydroxy 4 pregnene-3,20-dione.

16. 6,3 fiuoro 9a bromo 11p hydroxy 4 pregnene-3,20-dione.

17. 6 fluoro 9m bromo 11p hydroxy 1,4 pregnadiene-3,20-dione.

18. 6oz fluoro 9oz bromo 11p hydroxy 1,4-pregnadiene-3,20-dione.

19. 6B fluoro 9a bromo 11p hydroxy 1,4 pregnadiene-3,20-dione.

20. A 6-fluoro-9,11p-oxido compound of the following formula:

r 7 =0 CH3 (IJHa C=O UHF wherein the 1,2-carbon atom linkage is selected from the linkages consisting of single and double bond linkages.

24. 6-fluoro-4,9( 1 1 )-pregnadiene-3,20-dione. 25. 6-fluoro-1,4,9( 1 1)-pregnatriene-3,20-dione.

No references cited. 

1. A 6-FLUORO-11-OXYGENARATED COMPOUND OF THE FOLLOWING FORMULA:
 20. A 6-FLUORO-9,11B-OXIDO COMPOUND OF THE FOLLOWING FORMULA: 